So you're thinking of buying a new build: the price. Part II

In the last post I started by telling you what to expect is not included in the price.  This is a continuation of that.

What is not included in the advertised price of a new build?

4.  Wardrobes.

Whilst you will see some wardrobes in the rooms, the only thing you are likely to get is the outer carcass.  What do I mean?  Whatever shelves, or hanging shelves or trays/baskets you see in the wardrobe, don't assume that they will be included.  Each of those shelves or hanging units (unless a very basic one across the top of the wardrobe) will have to be paid for separately. Also, it is likely that the outer of the wardrobe is actually an upgrade. You will need to check what the standard carcass is and also what the standard handles are.

Check

• outer carcass (colour and finish)
• shelves
• trays/baskets
• handles
• mirrors on front of unit (they may come in other colours than the usual mirror that you are used to)
• fronts will be included

Of course, you don't have to choose the standard options, but if you don't, there will be a cost to any changes that you make.

In some of the rooms, you may find that there is a recess in the wall for a cupboard, but all you will get is a hanger across the width of the recess.  There may be no interior or doors or anything else for that matter.

5. Kitchen

This is a veritable minefield and is the reason I have left it until later to discuss.  Here you will have to negotiate on flooring, tiling and lighting as mentioned before, but there are many other things that you will have to choose and pay extra for too.

• Open all the cupboards and drawers.  Again, don't expect to get what you see.  The only thing you can be sure of is the outer carcass.  For an example.  The showhome we looked at had  pan drawers under the hob and either side of these drawers was a set of drawers, which came in threes.  The pan drawers were included as standard, but those drawers either side of them were not.  All that was included here were standard outer and shelving.  Incidentally, this meant that the only drawers that were included as standard in the whole of the kitchen were three pan drawers.
• The cupboard fronts may contain glass.  Again, usually an upgrade.
• The handles in the showhome may be an upgrade, check as to which are the standard ones.
• They may have fitted a wine cooler or some other fancy option.  Note this is an option and will have a fancy price tag.  Probably a cupboard with shelves normally.

Other things to check are:-

• Worktop.  Generally they will fit the most modern and expensive worktop i.e. either granite, Corian, Silestone or something similar.  In addition to this, you will find that they may have fitted a tap that is a spray tap that moves enabling you to clean the sink easier or wash vegetables or whatever else you plan on doing with it. 

Beware.  These taps are fine if fitted in a fixed sink, such as the ones I have already mentioned.  However, as we discovered, if you would like one fitted into a stainless steel sink, there is likely to be some movement where the tap is fixed into the sink.  Franke have patented a sink brace designed to fix this problem (they are relatively cheap at £10/15), but since I have not seen it in action, I cannot vouch for how effective it is.

With the granite type worktops, the spray tap is fixed into the worktop, since the sinks are generally fitted under the worktop, meaning that the tap is more substantially braced in place.

• Have you ever looked at the end of the cupboard which is fitted at the end of the run of cupboards?  If you have, you will notice that usually they are white and matt.  This is something though that today does not have to be the case.  You can have an end of cupboard that matches the rest of your cupboards. At a price of course!!!
• Taps.
• Hob.
• Extractor fan.
• Splashback.  Generally, they will fit a stainless steel one.  However, we discovered quite by chance, when a salesperson was flicking through the extras booklet, that they have glass splashbacks on offer.  We didn't see any on display in any of the showhomes (and we went round a lot of showhomes), so seeing them in situ will not be easy, but they may be available and you won't necessarily be told.  There are some that may be standard, but other colours will incur a cost most likely.
• Task lighting.  Again, you will probably see lighting in place in the kitchen under the kitchen cupboards.  Delta lighting seems popular at the moment, but whilst it may look nice, it isn't necessarily the most useful type of lighting you can find.
• Lighting in the kickboards.
• White goods - such as fridges or freezers etc

6.  Colour on the walls.

You may think it is obvious that I mention this, but please read on.  Many of the showhomes will have a wall that has expensive wallpaper on it.  You don't expect that to be included in the price and it isn't.  However, many homes are painted in white, very popular these days and you might expect that to be included in the price.  It isn't!

Let me clarify.  Whilst white is popular, you may find that if you would like the walls painted in white then it will come at an extra cost.  Magnolia may be standard, but no other colours are likely to be.  Incidentally, you need to be careful if viewing showhomes that belong to the same developer.  We discovered that white paint was standard on some sites, but not on others.  Don't assume if you have had to travel to another location to view the home that you are interested in, that the items they have as standard will be standard at your site.

Any other colour that you see on the walls is likely to incur a cost. 

Check

• Which colour is standard and the extra cost that will be incurred if you want other colours.

That's it for now.  There will be further instalments guiding you through the buying and choosing process at a later date.